Graduate Student News

Fall 2026: Last day of work for GAs holding F-1 and J-1 visas

Dear International Huskies,

This message is going out to all international graduate assistants at UConn as a reminder. If the the information does not apply to you now, it will be important for you to be aware of these limitations in the future. Federal government regulations allow graduate students on F-1 and J-1 visas to hold on-campus employment while they are pursuing their degree. If you will be a Fall 2026 graduate, you will no longer be pursuing your degree after your degree conferral on December 20, 2026 and you can no longer work on campus as of this date.

If you hold a Fall 2026 GA appointment at Storrs or a regional campus (excepting UConn Health), the final date of your appointment is January 6, 2027. If your degree is conferred in December and you hold an F-1 or J-1 visa and your assistantship appointment is covered by a collective bargaining agreement with the Graduate Employee Union (GEU), the time between the degree conferral date and the appointment end date should be treated as time off. Please work with your supervisor to ensure that you finish the duties associated with your assistantship before your degree conferral date. You will still receive your full fall GA stipend.

In addition, ISSS will be updating your I-20 or DS-2019 program end date to December 20, 2026 if you are graduating in December and hold a GAship this term. This means your grace period to depart the U.S., or your first eligible date to begin post-completion practical training, will begin December 21, 2026. Please plan for this accordingly. ISSS will adjust your I-20 or DS-2019 end date automatically based on notification that you have applied for graduation, or at the time you apply for post-completion OPT (F-1 students) or Academic Training (J-1 students), whichever comes first. ISSS will notify you when your adjusted I-20 or DS-2019 is ready to download from your ISSS portal account.

Please reach out to ISSS at international@uconn.edu if you have any questions about this guidance as it relates to your visa status, I-20, grace period, or practical training timeline.

Leslie M. Shor
Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Dean of The Graduate School

Arthur Galinat
Director, International Student and Scholar Services

The Graduate School Newsletter: Fall 2026

Dear UConn Graduate Students,

Welcome to the fall semester! I hope that the summer months were restorative for you. As we approach the new academic year, I’d like to share a few news items, resources, and events with you. One of the most critical updates is the change to Duration of Status for international graduate students. Please view our newsletter to read more about this important immigration update.

This summer, The Graduate School launched a new online Graduate Student Orientation platform for all UConn graduate students. Whether you are a new or returning student, this tool will assist you in finding the support you need when you need it. Click here to visit the new site.

During the fall months, we hope to see you either online or in-person at our events. Be sure to check out the Graduate Student Resource Fair, taking place on Wednesday, Sept. 2, from 2-4pm on the Storrs campus. We are expecting 15+ offices supporting graduate students to attend. Also, consider joining us for the online GRADCHAT series, designed to provide a safe space for you and to help you succeed in graduate school. We invite you to view our Fall 2026 newsletter to learn more about what we have in store for you.

As always, The Graduate School is here to help. Reach out anytime for assistance.

Best wishes for a successful fall!

Leslie M. Shor

Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Dean of The Graduate School

Fall 2026 Graduate Student Timely Topics Series

The Graduate School’s Timely Topics is a series of learning opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to engage with subject matter experts on topics relevant to graduate education. The student track of this series features sessions that highlight University resources and supports, answer questions about academic processes and procedures, and provide strategies to help students successfully navigate their graduate career. All sessions are offered virtually.

Register for a Session | View the full student track schedule and session descriptions

Fall 2026 Student Sessions:

Difficult Subjects/Civil Conversations: A Structured Dialogue Workshop
In today’s polarized academic and social climate, graduate Teaching and Research Assistants play a critical role in fostering respectful and productive conversations. This one-hour, tools-based workshop introduces structured dialogue techniques that support active listening, constructive engagement, and communication across difference. Participants will gain practical strategies to navigate challenging discussions in classrooms, research settings, and collaborative environments. Join the Democracy & Dialogues Initiative to strengthen your ability to lead with clarity, empathy, and professionalism.

Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026
Time: 11am – 12pm
Facilitators: Nana Amos, Director of Community Outreach & Engagement, The Dodd Center for Human Rights; Co-Director, Democracy & Dialogues Initiative & Brendan Kane, Professor, History and Literature, Cultures, and Languages; Co-Director, Democracy & Dialogues Initiative

Researcher Privacy for Graduate Students
In today’s increasingly connected academic landscape, researchers face unique privacy and security challenges. This session will provide you with practical strategies to assess and protect your digital footprint, implement essential privacy measures, and respond effectively to potential issues. From managing your scholarly identity to handling controversial research areas, learn how to balance academic visibility with personal privacy.

Learning Outcomes:

  • Assess your digital footprint and identify potential vulnerabilities specific to your academic work and online presence
  • Implement essential privacy protection strategies including password management, identity compartmentalization, and data removal techniques
  • Develop a personalized response plan for managing potential privacy threats related to your research activities

Date: Wednesday, October 7, 2026
Time: 11am – 12pm
Facilitator: Jennifer Schaefer, Research Services Librarian, Homer Babbidge Library

Being Strategic: Career Readiness Milestones
Have you ever wondered whether you truly understood everything involved in reaching your career goals?
Do you ever feel like you wished you had taken a career prep action step sooner?
Maybe you know you need to do something, but “what” remains a mystery.

By the end of the session, you’ll have a clearer understanding of the career preparation process, a roadmap of important milestones for different career paths, and actionable next steps to help you navigate your career readiness with greater confidence. Identifying and reaching your career goals requires intentional steps and a structured plan.

Date: Wednesday, October 28, 2026
Time: 11am – 12pm
Facilitator: Kay Gruder, Associate Director, Graduate Student and Postdoc Career Programs and Services, Center for Career Readiness and Life Skills

Making Connections That Count: Professional Communication & In-Person Networking
Strong professional communication—whether in person, over email, or in professional settings—is essential to success in graduate school and beyond. This session highlights strategies for communicating clearly and professionally in a range of contexts, as well as strategies for starting conversations, navigating in-person networking events, and following up effectively to turn brief interactions into lasting professional relationships.

Date: Wednesday, November 18, 2026
Time: 11am – 12pm
Facilitator: Melanie Sinche, Director of Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Success, The Graduate School

Register for a Session

Learn more about all of The Graduate School’s Timely Topics

Graduate School News from UConn Today

Community, Collaboration, and Preparation

The Graduate School is dedicated to the welfare and progress of its students. We strive to strengthen this through a commitment to the ideas of creating community, promoting collaboration, and addressing your academic, professional, and career preparation. UConn is committed to fostering a diverse and dynamic culture that prepares you to meet the challenges of a changing global society.

The Graduate School leads and coordinates a variety of activities and resources to navigate your pathway through graduate school and to enrich the overall personal and professional experience of graduate students and postdoctoral scholars.  Our vision for training of graduate students and postdoctoral scholars rests on three pillars as outlined in our academic plan.

Community: The Graduate School will enhance the quality of life for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars by nurturing an engaged community of scholars that includes all disciplines and all campuses.

Collaboration: The Graduate School will foster the development of inter-, cross-, multi-, and trans- disciplinary research and teaching programs by removing barriers to cross-departmental, cross-program, and cross-campus graduate and postdoctoral education.

Preparation: The Graduate School will enhance career and professional development of graduate students and postdoctoral scholars through programs designed to enhance discipline-independent, transferable skills. We utilize a framework of three categories to help students and scholars prioritize their activity: Professional Engagement, Career Development, Personal Growth.